Autonomous Vehicle Routing With Roadway Risk Scoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face challenges in safely navigating through varying environmental conditions and road segments, as existing systems may not adequately assess risk levels and adapt routes in real-time, leading to potential accidents and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method for analyzing roadway suitability by receiving operating data from autonomous vehicles, determining risk levels, and generating suitability scores for road segments, which are used to optimize routes and ensure safe autonomous operation, including emergency routing and parking functionalities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If autonomous vehicles use existing routing systems, then route determination is simple, but safety and adaptability to varying environmental conditions deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the routing system into multiple independent components: a routing module that determines routes, a risk assessment module that evaluates road segments, and an integration module that combines them. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in its function while maintaining overall system manageability and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a risk assessment module as an intermediary between the routing system and autonomous vehicle control. This intermediary evaluates road segments and provides safety information to the routing module, enabling adaptive route selection without requiring complete system redesign.
2Reliability
If autonomous vehicles navigate all road segments, then coverage is complete, but accident risk increases due to inadequate risk assessment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic route adjustment by continuously assessing road segment risks and modifying routes in real-time. The system adapts to changing environmental conditions, traffic patterns, and road conditions, selecting routes that optimize safety while maintaining operational versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the risk assessment module continuously monitors road segments and provides information back to the routing module. This feedback loop enables the system to learn from past experiences and adjust routes proactively to avoid high-risk areas.
3Reliability
If real-time risk assessment is implemented, then safety improves, but computational load and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary risk assessments of road segments before the vehicle reaches them, allowing the routing module to plan safe routes in advance. By assessing risks proactively rather than reactively, the system maintains safety while minimizing real-time processing demands.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial risk assessment by focusing computational resources on evaluating only the most critical road segments and risk factors relevant to the current route, rather than assessing all possible parameters equally. This selective approach reduces processing time while maintaining adequate safety evaluation.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicle routing are disclosed. Roadway suitability for autonomous operation is scored to facilitate use in route determination. Maps of roadways suitable for various levels of autonomous operation may be generated. Such map data may be used by autonomous vehicles or other computer devices in determining routes based upon criteria for vehicle trips. Such routes may be automatically updated based upon changes in road conditions, vehicle conditions, operator conditions, or environmental conditions. Emergency routing using such map data is described, such as automatic routing and travel when a passenger is experiencing a medical emergency.